St. Clare of Assisi: The Saint Who Wanted to Own Nothing

About this sermon

St. Clare of Assisi wanted more than simply to live in poverty—she desired to become “poverty itself.” In this traditional Catholic and Franciscan reflection, we discover the extraordinary life and holiness of St. Clare of Assisi, one of the great patrons of the Franciscan Order and the spiritual daughter of St. Francis of Assisi. Born into a noble family in Assisi, Clare distributed her possessions to the poor, fled the noise of the world, and embraced religious life. Despite opposition from her family, she remained firm in her vocation. At San Damiano, companions gathered around her and Clare governed her monastery for 42 years with prudence, discipline, and fidelity to the Franciscan rule. Her life was marked by extraordinary austerity, prayer, fasting, humility, and an uncompromising love of holy poverty. Clare wanted nothing for herself. Everything was borrowed. Everything was received from Providence. For her, voluntary poverty wasn't merely something to endure. It was a privilege. The sermon even describes the remarkable paradox of her spirituality: “The poorer Clare became, the happier she was.” Her life was also associated with extraordinary miracles. When attackers threatened San Damiano, the sick Clare was carried to the gate with the Most Blessed Sacrament. She prayed for the protection of her sisters, and the attackers fled. But the sermon presents an even deeper dimension of her holiness: St. Clare as an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her purity, humility, poverty, detachment, and complete surrender to God reflected the virtues of Our Lady. May St. Clare help us strip away our attachments and seek the only treasure that can never be lost: Jesus Christ. 🙏 St. Clare of Assisi, pray for us. 00:00 – St. Clare of Assisi 00:32 – Patroness of the Franciscan Order 00:41 – Clare's Noble Birth in Assisi 00:58 – Giving Everything to the Poor 01:05 – Clare Leaves the World Behind 01:20 – St. Francis Takes Clare to San Damiano 01:28 – Founding Her Religious Community 01:43 – 42 Years Governing the Monastery 01:51 – The Extraordinary Life of St. Clare 02:08 – Clare's Severe Penance 02:34 – Her Extraordinary Fasting 03:06 – Watching and Prayer 03:46 – Clare's Love of Holy Poverty 04:08 – The Greatness of St. Clare 04:15 – Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary 04:24 – Miracles of St. Clare 04:55 – Multiplication of the Loaves 05:04 – Attack on San Damiano 05:13 – Clare & the Blessed Sacrament 05:28 – St. Clare's Prayer for Protection 05:38 – “I Will Always Preserve You” 05:45 – The Attackers Flee 05:53 – Our Lady Appears at Clare's Death 06:11 – Death of St. Clare 06:29 – St. Clare's Love of Holy Poverty 06:38 – Clare Wanted to Be Poverty Itself 07:01 – Living Entirely on Providence 07:34 – The Primacy of Poverty 07:50 – Voluntary Poverty as a Privilege 08:05 – “Lady Poverty” 08:14 – The Franciscan Life of Poverty 08:38 – Reflecting on St. Clare's Holiness 08:47 – St. Clare as an Icon of Our Lady 09:04 – The Holiness of St. Francis 10:18 – St. Clare & St. Veronica Giuliani 10:44 – Clare's Union With Our Lady 11:02 – Prayer to St. Clare 11:20 – Freedom From Earthly Attachments 11:36 – Seeking Eternal Glory For more please visit https://www.themarianfranciscans.org/ Please sign up at this link https://lifecrusade.org/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 #StClareOfAssisi #StClare #StFrancisOfAssisi #Franciscan #FranciscanSpirituality #PoorClares #CatholicSaints #HolyPoverty #BlessedSacrament #HolyEucharist #VirginMary #OurLady #CatholicFaith #CatholicTradition #JesusChrist